Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Scott Walker Continues War On Liberal Voters

Shah Walker of Wisconsistan is once more attacking Democratic voters' ability to cast their ballots, having already limited voting to residents who have a picture ID and now limiting their ability to get those IDs.

Citing budget shortfalls (what? Taking away collective bargaining hasn't saved the economy in Wisconsin?! Weird) Walker's office now has announced the closure of 10 DMV offices in the state, shuttering locations where people can get the crucial IDs necessary to vote.

"This story shows just how stupid neoconservatives think the public really is. Walker and his ilk pass a bill requiring voters to present valid photo identification at the polls. Then, in the same breath, Walker and his ilk propose a bill to close the identification issuing centers (the DMV’s) in the Democratic districts, making ID’s more difficult for low-income voters to obtain.

"And then, when the Democrats call foul, Walker and his ilk shrug and claim their motivation is purely economic, not political. And we just shake our heads and move on, because, really, what can we do?"

"A high-ranking DOT official rejected that claim, saying the changes were based on economics, not politics.

"Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, called on the state Department of Transportation to reconsider its plants to close the Fort Atkinson DMV center. The department plans to expand by four hours a week the hours of a center about 30 minutes away in Watertown.

"Jorgensen said he was concerned doing that would discourage people from Fort Atkinson from participating in elections.

"'What the heck is going on here?' Jorgensen said. 'Is politics at play here?'

"Transportation Department executive assistant Reggie Newson denied that politics was behind the office closure plan, saying the decisions were being made based on what made the most economic sense."